World’s biggest cricket stadium renamed after Indian PM Modi

Ahmedabad, India - The world's biggest cricket stadium was renamed after India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise move on Wednesday hours before its inaugural day-night Test match between India and England.

The 110,000-seater stadium was the pet project of Modi who was chief minister in Gujarat state, where Ahmedabad is the main city, before taking over as head of government in 2014.

The new name was announced by Indian President Ramnath Kovind during a ceremony ahead of the third Test.

"This stadium was the dream of the prime minister and he had during his stint as chief minister here floated the idea of building the world’s largest stadium," Home Minister Amit Shah said at the event. The US$100mn, perfectly round venue, with seats in the blue and saffron of the Indian team, promises unobstructed views from every angle. It eclipses the 100,000-seat MCG in Australia, which dates back to 1853.

President Kovind said the stadium will be just one part of a Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave that will house amenities for 33 Olympic sports. The former Motera stadium was inaugurated as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cricket Stadium by Modi in February 2020.